Wire wrapping tool

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a wire wrapping tool to perform the disorderly arranged wiring of pin contact fields having high wiring density. An arrangement is provided for spreading the wiring adjacent the terminal pin being wrapped. Four spreading fingers generally parallel to the wrap gun bit are spaced outwardly of the bit. These fingers are secured by a ring member. Lever action of the fingers is produced by a second ring adjacent the upper edges of the fingers, the upper ring being movable axially to lever the fingers.

United States Patent [191 Staiger ]March 20, 1973 [54] WIRE WRAPPING TOOL [75] Inventor: Bruno Staiger, 7121 Erligheim, Germany [73] Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 203,403

[52] US. Cl. ..l40/l15, 140/124, 242/7.17 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2lf 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..140/1l3,115,1l9, 124;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,318,343 5/1967 Dryden 140/124 Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney-C. Cornell Remsen, Jr. et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT This invention relates to a wire wrapping tool to perform the disorderly arranged wiring of pin contact fields having high wiring density. An arrangement is provided for spreading the wiring adjacent the terminal pin being wrapped. Four spreading fingers generally parallel to the wrap gun bit are spaced outwardly of the bit. These fingers are secured by a ring member. Lever action of the fingers is produced by a second ring adjacent the upper edges of the fingers, the upper ring being movable axially to lever the fingers.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTfimRzoma 3,721,278

SHEET 3 or a Fig.3b

WIRE WRAPPING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wire wrapping tool for disorderly arranged wirings of pin contact fields of high wiring density.

The well arranged wiring of pin contact fields can be carried out various ways. One possibility resides in that a cable harness is prepared on a forming fixture which is then inserted into the pin contact field. The placing in position and the tying-off of the wires involves a considerable amount of manual work. The placing in position of the wires, however, may also be taken over by a numerically controlled wiring machine. This, however, increasing the costs of installation.

Another possibility is seen in the direct wiring of the pin contact field by hand, or with the aid of a wiring machine. But also in this case the placed wires must be shaped accordingly, and the wiring itself is positioned between the pin terminals, so that in the case of damage to the wires placed in position, there will have to be expected a short-circuit hazard. Moreover, as the wiring density increases during the placing in position of the individual wires, access to the pin terminals still to be connected, is rendered more and more difficult until finally there is reached a natural degree of saturation.

Some of the aforementioned disadvantages can be avoided when employing disorderly arranged wiring or a mat wiring. This kind of wiring, of course, is very economical, but also in this method it becomes more and more difficult in the course of carrying out the wiring of a pin contact field to get at the pins still to be connected. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for establishing a disorderly arranged wiring.

According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided an improved wire wrap tool for establishing the disorderly arranged wiring of pin contact fields having high wiring density of the type wherein there is automatically performed the combined stripping and wrapping of the wires on the pins of the contact field, wherein the improvement comprises a first guard rail fixed to said wire wrapping tool, a first ring cylindrically mounted around said wire wrap tool and fixed to said first rail, a second guard rail mounted on said wire wrap tool and movable in a direction corresponding to the axis of said wire wrap tool, a second ring mounted cylindrically around said wire wrap tool and fixed to said second guard rail, a plurality of fingers pivotably mounted on said first ring and engaging said second ring such that axial movement of said second ring produces lever action of said fingers for spreading the wiring adjacent the pin being wrapped.

At the wire wrapping tool there is advantageously used a combined stripping and wrapping gun. With the aid of this expanding finger it is possible especially in cases where the wiring is performed with the aid of a numerically controlled wiring machine, to establish disorderly wirings of high wiring density. Thisdrastically reduces the costs involved in the wiring of pin contact fields. Moreover, if the wiring, assisted by the webs over the pin contact field, is carried out above the connecting or terminal elements, there is also eliminated the short circuit hazard between the wires and the pins.

Preferably the expanding finger consists of two guard rails or supporting frames each ending up on a guard or supporting ring, and of the individual levers for spreading or opening up the wiring. Relative thereto it is proposed that the expanding finger or spreader consists of three or more individual levers for effecting the spreading or opening up of the wiring, and that the entire unit is arranged cylindrically around the wire wrapping tool. This results in a sufficient displacement of any wires likely to be positioned over the'pin to be wrapped and, at the same time, in an easy and compact construction of the expanding finger arrangement.

In one embodiment of the inve'ntionthe individual levers are rotatably mounted on one ring, and the levers slide in another ring. This results in a reliable conversion of the individual movements. Moreover, the individual levers are tapered at the end not facing the wire wrapping tool and, when in the normal position, form the common point end.

In cases where the wire wrap tool is operated by compressed air, the expanding finger arrangement may be actuated by a pneumatic piston attached to the wire wrap tool. I

The above and other objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a wiring arrangement;

FIG. 2 shows a wire wrap tool employing the inventive expanding finger or spreader arrangement; and

FIGS. 30, 3b, and 3c shows the sequence of operation of the expanding finger arrangement according to FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, there is shown by way of example a wiring arrangement which substantially, consists of the following parts: A baseplate l with a numerically controlled support 2 and a wire wrap tool 3 mounted thereto with a certain clearance, and comprising a four-part expanding finger or spreader arrangement 4. A subassembly base 5, which is inserted in the baseplate 1, to which a plastic frame 6 with the individual webs 7 is mounted, can be provided by the wire wrap tool 3 with disorderly arranged wiring. The support 2 is moved by a numerical control (not shown) in the coordinates x and 4, and

is adapted to sweep the entire pin contact field.

The subassembly base 5 contains a pin contact field with terminal pins 8.arranged at a modular spacing. These terminal pins 8 have a rectangular cross section and, therefore, are suitable for taking up wire wrap joints. A disorderly wiring can now be carried out, owing to the direct placement of the wires in the shortest way from one pin to the desired further pin and owing to the no longer required wire forming fixture, this represents the most economical kind of connection. Above the pin contact field, the plastics frame 6 is mounted to the subassembly base 5. In this frame, at the necessary points, and at a spacing of preferably two modules, it is possible to insert the webs 7. The in dividual wires are led from'the respective pin 8 via the nearest web 7 in a direct way to the second pin 8. In this way the entire wiring is lying above the pin contact field thus avoiding unintended points of contact between the pin contact field and the wiring.

As the wiring density increases, a conventional wire wrapping tool is no longer capable of getting at the pins 8 still to be provided with wrapped joints. For making this possible in spite of the foregoing, the inventive expanding finger 4 has been provided for on the wire wrap tool 3.

FIG. 2 shows the wire wrap tool 3 with the expanding finger arrangement 4 on an enlarged scale and more distinctly. The wire wrap tool 3 as mounted to the support 2 consists of a combined wire stripping and wrapping gun to which, ahead of the wrapping sleeve, there is attached an expanding finger arrangement 4. This arrangement consists of a stationary and a movable portion.

The stationary portion of the expanding finger arrangement 4 is constituted by a guard rail 9 carrying at its lower end a ring 10. The movable portion of the expanding finger arrangement 4 likewise consists of a rail 11 carrying a ring 12 at its lower end, and positioned within the first guard rail 9. To the ring 12, for example, there are rotatably mounted four individual levers 19. In the downward direction these levers extend inwardly and are tapered so that, when at normal, there is formed one single point end. In the upward extension of the levers 19 there is milled a wide notch 20 which is engaged by the ring of the rail 9.

Above the wire stripping and wrapping gun there are arranged three pneumatically driven pistons 13, 14 and 15 (partly shown in a sectional view). To the housing 16 of the piston 13 there is mounted the rail 9 with its upper cross brace. The housing 17 of the piston 14 is connected to the support 2, and the housing 18 of the piston 15 is seated on the wire wrap tool 3. The piston rods of all three pistons are connected to one another. To the piston rod projecting out between the housings l7 and 18, there is mounted the upper cross brace of the guard rail 11.

FIGS. 3a to 3c show the sequence of operations of the expanding finger arrangement 4. The wire wrapping tool 3, the wire stripping and wrapping gun together with the expanding finger arrangement 4, when at normal, are supposed to be positioned about 10 mm above the pins 8. The wire wrap tool is then moved by the control arrangement in x-y coordinates over the pin 8 to be wrapped (FIG. 30). Now the piston 14 is acted upon by the compressed air thus causing the wire wrap tool 3 together with the expanding finger arrangement 4 to enter into the eventually existing wire entanglement. Thereupon the piston 13 is actuated by compressed air, thus causing the guard rail 9 to be 15 is actuated, causing the wire wrap tool 3, i.e., the wire stripping and wrapping gun, to be lowered on to the pin 8 to be provided with the wrapped joint (FIG. 30). The switching wire as threaded into the wire stripping and wrapping gun prior to the entering of the wire wrap tool 3 and the expanding finger arrangement 4 into the wiring and the lowering of the tool, may now be wrapped on to the pin 8 in the manner known per se.

Upon completion of the wrapping process, the wire wrap tool 3 is lifted, the expanding finger arrangement 4 is closed, and the entire unit is lifted and forwarded to the next pin to be provided with a wrapped joint. There the described process is repeated until the wiring is completed. Immediately after the individual pin terminals have been provided with the wrapped joints, the wiring can be tested as a whole in the well-known manner.

The wire wrap tool 3 together with the inventive expanding finger arrangement 4 is not only suitable for being used in a wiring arrangement, but is also suitable for being used on a manually operated tool, for example, on semi-automatic facilities, or else for repair purposes.-

It isto be understood that the foregoing description of specific examples of this invention is made by way of example only and is not to be considered as a limitation on its scope.

I claim:

1. An improved wire wrap tool for establishing the disorderly arranged wiring of pin contact fields having high wiring density of the type wherein there is automatically performed the combined stripping and wrapping of the wires on the pins of the contact field, wherein the improvement comprises:

a first guard rail fixed to said wire wrapping tool;

a first ring cylindrically mounted around said wire wrap tool and fixed to said first rail;

a second guard rail mounted on said wire wrap tool and movable in a direction corresponding to the axis of said wire wrap tool;

a second ring mounted cylindrically around said wire wrap tool and fixed to said second guard rail;

a plurality of fingers pivotably mounted on said first ring and engaging said second ring such that axial movement of said second ring produces lever ac- I tion of said fingers for spreading the wiring adjacent the pin being wrapped.

2. An improved. wire wrap tool according to claim 1 wherein said fingers are arranged cylindrically around said wire wrap tool.

3. An improved wire wrap tool according to claim 1 wherein said levers are rotatably'mounted on said first ring.

4'. An improved wire wrap tool accordingto claim 2 wherein said fingers are tapered to form a common point when in a normal position.

5. An improved wire wrap tool according to claim 1 further including a piston for actuating the axial movement of said second rail. 

1. An imProved wire wrap tool for establishing the disorderly arranged wiring of pin contact fields having high wiring density of the type wherein there is automatically performed the combined stripping and wrapping of the wires on the pins of the contact field, wherein the improvement comprises: a first guard rail fixed to said wire wrapping tool; a first ring cylindrically mounted around said wire wrap tool and fixed to said first rail; a second guard rail mounted on said wire wrap tool and movable in a direction corresponding to the axis of said wire wrap tool; a second ring mounted cylindrically around said wire wrap tool and fixed to said second guard rail; a plurality of fingers pivotably mounted on said first ring and engaging said second ring such that axial movement of said second ring produces lever action of said fingers for spreading the wiring adjacent the pin being wrapped.
 2. An improved wire wrap tool according to claim 1 wherein said fingers are arranged cylindrically around said wire wrap tool.
 3. An improved wire wrap tool according to claim 1 wherein said levers are rotatably mounted on said first ring.
 4. An improved wire wrap tool according to claim 2 wherein said fingers are tapered to form a common point when in a normal position.
 5. An improved wire wrap tool according to claim 1 further including a piston for actuating the axial movement of said second rail. 